JP2005119463A - Vehicular headlamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular headlamp enabling a driver to sufficiently see a front side of a curved road on a sloping mountain path or a road sign in front of the curved road. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular headlamp is equipped with a headlight 13 stored in a headlight housing 11, having a light source, and forwardly applying light of the light source. In the vehicular headlamp, supporting portions 32c, 32c supporting the headlight 13 so as to vertically rotate are provided on a turn table 30 disposed in the headlight housing 11 so as to horizontally rotate. Therefore, an application direction of the headlight 13 can be rotated in four directions. For example, it is possible to efficiently see the front side of the curved road on the sloping mounting path, and to sufficiently check the sign in front of the curved road. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp including a headlight having a variable light distribution mechanism.

This type of vehicle headlamp has a variable light distribution function that supports the headlight so that the headlight can swing in the horizontal direction and changes the irradiation direction of the headlight so as to follow the steering direction of the steering wheel, for example. Yes (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). Such vehicle headlamps have the advantage of high driving safety at night because the light reaches the end of the curved road.
JP-A-11-245716 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-50111 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-12901 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-2112

  By the way, the above-mentioned conventional vehicle headlamps are only swinging in the horizontal direction, and therefore, when approaching a sloped mountain road, it may not be possible to sufficiently see the road surface and road signs ahead of the curved road. is there.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular headlamp that can sufficiently see the road mark at the tip of a curved mountain road or the road ahead. .

  In the invention of claim 1, a head ride housing fixed to the front end portion of the vehicle, a head light housed in the head light housing and having a light source and irradiating light of the light source forward, A vehicle headlamp comprising: a turntable disposed in the headlight housing so as to be horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis; and the headlight provided integrally with the turntable with the horizontal axis as a center. And a support portion that is vertically rotatable.

  In this case, the irradiation direction of the headlight on the turntable can be changed to the horizontal direction (left-right direction) by rotating the turntable. Further, by rotating the headlight supported by the support portion of the turntable in the vertical direction (up and down direction), the irradiation direction of the headlight can be changed to the vertical direction (up and down direction). That is, the irradiation direction of the headlight can be freely rotated up and down, left and right (vertical and horizontal). Therefore, for example, even on a mountain road with a gradient, it is possible to sufficiently see the end of the curved road.

  In addition, since the support portion as the vertical rotation mechanism is provided on the turntable as the horizontal rotation mechanism, the apparatus can be made compact.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle headlamp according to the first aspect, wherein an original joint that engages with a follower provided integrally with the headlight and is capable of vertically turning the headlight. It is characterized by providing.

  In this case, since the headlight is rotated in the vertical direction by the cam mechanism composed of the original and follower, the structure is simpler than the drive transmission mechanism in which a plurality of gears are engaged. In addition, since the cam mechanism is used, it is possible to immediately respond to a request for swinging the headlight in the vertical direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle headlamp according to the first or second aspect, the horizontal axis and the orthogonal axis are set on the irradiation axis of the headlight. It is.

  In this case, the irradiation axis of the headlight does not shake both in the horizontal rotation around the vertical axis and in the vertical rotation around the horizontal axis.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a head ride housing fixed to the front end of the vehicle, and a headlight housed in the headlight housing and having a light source and irradiating light from the light source forward, The vehicle headlamp includes a turntable disposed in the headlight housing so as to be horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis, and the headlight provided integrally with the turntable so that the headlight is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. And a support portion that is rotatably supported. Therefore, the irradiation direction of the headlight can be freely rotated vertically and horizontally (vertically and horizontally). For this reason, it is possible to sufficiently see the tip of a curved road even on a sloped mountain road, and it is possible to sufficiently check a road sign ahead of the curved road.

  In addition, since the support portion as the vertical rotation mechanism is provided on the turntable as the horizontal rotation mechanism, the apparatus can be made compact.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, there is provided an original joint that engages with a follower provided integrally with the headlight and can vertically rotate the headlight. Since the headlight is rotated in the vertical direction by the cam mechanism composed of the original clause and the follower for the feature, the structure is simple compared to the drive transmission mechanism in which a plurality of gears are engaged. In addition, since the cam mechanism is used, it is possible to immediately respond to a request for swinging the headlight in the vertical direction.

  In the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the horizontal axis and the orthogonal axis are set on the irradiation axis of the headlight. In both rotation and vertical rotation, there is no blurring of the irradiation axis of the headlight, and the direction of the irradiation axis can be accurately changed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an example in which the structure according to the present invention is applied to a headlight for a passing beam of a vehicle headlamp. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a vehicle headlamp according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a top view of a headlight for passing beam of the vehicle headlamp, and FIG. 3 is a head for passing beam of the headlamp for the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the headlight for the low beam of the vehicle headlamp.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle headlamp 10 of this embodiment is a four-lamp type vehicle headlamp 10, and is provided in each of a pair of left and right headlight housings 11, 11 at the front end of the vehicle 1. , A traveling beam headlight 12 and a passing beam headlight 13 are provided. The headlight housing 11 includes a housing body and an outer lens attached to the front opening of the housing body. In this example, a turn signal lamp and a clearance lamp are also housed in the housing.

  In this embodiment, the low beam headlight 13 is characterized, and the configuration of the low beam headlight 13 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The headlight 13 for the passing beam is supported by the support arms (support portions) 32c and 32c provided integrally with the turntable 30 disposed in the headlight housing 11 so as to be horizontally rotatable so as to be vertically rotatable. ing. As a result, the irradiation direction of the low beam headlight 13 can be changed to the horizontal direction (left-right direction) as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 2, and the low beam headlight is indicated as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 13 irradiation directions can be changed to the vertical direction (up and down direction). That is, the irradiation direction of the headlight 13 can be freely rotated vertically and horizontally.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the low beam headlight 13 will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a bracket 22 is fixed to the bottom surface 11 a of the headlight housing 11, and a gear case 23 and a motor 29 as a driving means for horizontal rotation are fixed to the bracket 22. A shaft (vertical axis) 25 constituting the rotation center of the turntable 30 is supported in the gear case 23. The shaft 25 rotates forward and backward in response to the output of the motor 29 via a gear 26 that rotates integrally with the shaft 25, a worm gear 27, and a pinion gear 28 that rotates integrally with the output shaft 29 a of the motor 29. ing.

  The turntable 30 includes a turntable body 31 and a bracket 32 that are fixed to each other, and a shaft 25 is fixed to the turntable body 31.

  An L-shaped portion 32b is provided at the rear end of the bracket 32, and a motor 33 is attached to the L-shaped portion 32b as a driving means for vertical rotation. A plate cam 34 is fixed to the output shaft 33a of the motor 33 as an original node constituting the cam mechanism. Also, the bracket 32 is provided with a pair of support arms 32c and 32c that protrude vertically upward from both ends in the vehicle width direction. The support arms 32c and 32c rotate the headlight 13 in the vertical direction. It is a support part that supports it freely.

  A shaft 35 constituting a horizontal axis is fixed to the upper part of both the support arms 32c, 32c, and the headlight 13 is pivotally supported on the shaft 35 via a bracket 36 so that the headlight 13 is rotated in the vertical direction. It is free.

  The headlight 13 is a projector-type headlight 13, and includes a reflector 14 having a reflection surface on the inner surface, a light source bulb (not shown) fixed to the central opening of the reflector 14, and a flange at the front opening end of the reflector 14. The lens frame 16 fixed to the portion 14 f and the collimator lens 17 attached to the front end opening of the lens frame 16 are configured. The headlight 13 is fixed to the bracket 36 by the flange portion 14 f of the reflector 14. Has been. The bracket 36 is provided with a plate-like follower 36b that engages with a plate cam 34 as an original joint. When the vertical drive motor 33 is driven to rotate the plate cam 34, the follower 36b is moved in the vertical direction. Thus, the irradiation axis Z of the headlight 13 moves up and down. A return spring 37 is installed between the follower 36b of the bracket 36 and the L-shaped portion 32b of the bracket 32. Due to the restoring force of the return spring 37, the follower 36b is always pressed against the plate cam 34. Has been.

  On the irradiation axis Z of the headlight 13, a horizontal axis X and an orthogonal axis Y as the rotation center of the headlight 13 are provided.

  According to the vehicle headlamp of such an embodiment, the passing direction of the low-beam headlamp 13 can be changed as follows. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the light distribution pattern in the left curve of the headlight 13 for the beam of the vehicle headlamp. FIG. 6 is the light distribution pattern in the right curve of the headlight 13 for the beam of the vehicle headlamp. It is explanatory drawing of.

  First, when the steering of the vehicle 1 is turned left along the left curve, the horizontal turning motor 29 is operated by a control circuit (not shown), and the turntable 30 is turned left. Accordingly, the irradiation direction of the low beam headlight 13 on the turntable 30 changes toward the steering direction (left side) as shown in FIG. That is, the light distribution pattern PL at the time of the left curve faces the left side. On the other hand, when the steering of the vehicle 1 is turned right along the right curve, the horizontal rotation motor 29 is operated by a control circuit (not shown), and the turntable 30 is turned right. Accordingly, the irradiation pattern of the passing beam headlight 13 on the turntable 30 changes in the steering direction (right side) as shown in FIG. That is, the light distribution pattern PR at the time of the right curve is directed to the right side.

  Here, if you want to fully overlook the road ahead on a sloped mountain road, or if you want to fully check the road sign ahead of the road even if there is no slope, the driver will be installed in the driver's seat. By turning on the switch, the vertical drive motor 33 is operated, and the irradiation directions PLU and PRU of the low beam headlight 13 can be changed upward as shown in FIGS. . When returning to the normal (downward) light distribution pattern PL, PR, the switch is turned OFF. The switch may be omitted and the vertical drive motor 33 may be automatically operated according to the inclination angle of the vehicle 1. Further, in order to prevent dazzling light on the oncoming vehicle, it is further preferable that the presence or absence of the oncoming vehicle is detected by an optical sensor and the passing beam is controlled to return to the normal height when there is an oncoming vehicle.

  According to the vehicle headlamp of such an embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

  First, the turntable 30 is disposed in the headlight housing 11 so as to be horizontally rotatable about the vertical axis Y, and the headlight 13 provided integrally with the turntable 30 is vertically rotated about the horizontal axis X. Since the support portions (support arms 32c and 32c) that support freely are provided, the irradiation direction of the headlight 13 can be freely rotated up and down and left and right. For this reason, for example, even on a mountain road with a slope, it is possible to sufficiently see the tip of the curved road, and it is possible to confirm the sign of the tip of the curved road.

  In addition, since the support arms 32c and 32c as the vertical rotation mechanism are provided on the turntable 30 as the horizontal rotation mechanism, the apparatus can be made compact.

  Second, since a plate cam (original node) 34 that engages with a follower 36b provided integrally with the headlight 13 and vertically rotates the headlight 13 is provided, that is, the original node 34 is provided. Since the headlight 13 is rotated in the vertical direction by the cam mechanism including the follower 36b, the structure is simpler than the drive transmission mechanism in which a plurality of gears are engaged. Further, since the cam mechanism is used, there is an advantage that the headlight 13 can be immediately responded to a request for swinging in the vertical direction.

  Third, since the horizontal axis X and the orthogonal axis Y are set on the irradiation axis Z of the headlight 13, there is no blurring of the irradiation axis Z in both horizontal rotation and vertical rotation, and irradiation is performed accurately. The direction of the axis Z can be changed.

  Fourth, since the follower 36b is urged against the cam plate 34 by the return spring 37 as the urging means, there is no backlash in the vertical direction of the headlight 13.

  Hereinafter, other embodiments will be described.

  Second Embodiment: The vehicle headlamp according to the second embodiment is such that an auxiliary headlight provided separately from the headlight for traveling beam and the headlight for passing beam is swingable vertically and horizontally. This is different from the first embodiment described above. Since the light distribution changing structure of the headlight is the same, description of the structure is omitted.

  In the vehicle headlamp of the second embodiment, the following light distribution pattern can be obtained.

  First, when the steering of the automobile is turned along the curved path (FIG. 7 shows an example of a left turn and FIG. 8 shows a right turn), a drive motor for horizontal rotation is actuated by a control circuit (not shown) to turn the turntable. , And accordingly, the irradiation direction of the auxiliary headlight on the turntable changes toward the steering direction. As a result, the light distribution pattern Q1 of the auxiliary headlight is added to the light distribution pattern Pc of the passing beam as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the end of the curved path can be sufficiently overlooked.

  Here, the motor for vertical driving is operated in accordance with the inclination angle of the vehicle 1 so that the light distribution pattern (not shown) of the auxiliary headlight is directed upward from Q1, so that a curved road can be curved even on a sloped mountain road. You can fully look beyond.

  For example, when you want to fully check the road sign at the end of a curved road, the driver activates the horizontal drive motor and / or vertical drive motor by turning on the switch provided in the driver's seat. Thus, as shown by the dotted line in FIGS. 7 and 8, the light distribution pattern Q2 of the auxiliary headlight can be directed upward on the road side.

  In the vehicular headlamp according to the second embodiment, the headlight is supported in a vertically rotatable manner on a turntable that is horizontally rotatable in the headlight housing, as in the first embodiment. Since the support portion is provided, the irradiation direction of the headlight can be freely rotated vertically and horizontally. Therefore, for example, even on a mountain road with a gradient, it is possible to sufficiently see the tip of the curved road, and it is possible to sufficiently confirm the road sign ahead of the curved road.

  In the vehicle headlamp of the second embodiment, the light source may be changed to a light source that emits only infrared light, such as an infrared emitting LED, and used for night vision.

  As described above, the present invention includes the turntable that is disposed in the headlight housing so as to be horizontally rotatable, and the support portion that is provided integrally with the turntable and supports the headlight so as to be vertically rotatable. Therefore, the irradiation direction of the headlight can be freely rotated vertically and horizontally. For this reason, it is possible to sufficiently see the tip of a curved road even on a sloped mountain road, and it is possible to sufficiently check a road sign ahead of the curved road.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a vehicle headlamp according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of a headlight for a passing beam of the vehicle headlamp. FIG. 3 is a side view of the headlight for passing beam of the vehicle headlamp. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the headlight for the passing beam of the vehicle headlamp. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a light distribution pattern on the left curve of the headlight for passing beam of the vehicle headlamp. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a light distribution pattern on the right curve of the headlight for passing beam of the vehicle headlamp. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a light distribution pattern on the left curve of the passing beam headlight and the auxiliary headlight of the vehicle headlamp according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a light distribution pattern on the right curve of the passing beam headlight and the auxiliary headlight of the vehicle headlamp according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle 10 ... Vehicle headlamp 11 ... Headlight housing 13 ... Headlight for passing beam (headlight)
29 ... Motor (drive means for horizontal rotation)
30 ... Turntable 32c ... Support arm 33 ... Motor (drive means for vertical rotation)
34 ... Plate cam (original paragraph)
36b ... Follower X ... Horizontal axis Y ... Orthogonal axis Z ... Irradiation axis

Claims (3)

A head ride housing fixed to the front end of the vehicle;
In a vehicle headlamp comprising a headlight housed in the headlight housing and having a light source and irradiating light of the light source forward,
A turntable disposed in the headlight housing so as to be horizontally rotatable around a vertical axis;
A support unit that is provided integrally with the turntable and supports the headlight so as to be vertically rotatable around a horizontal axis;
A vehicle headlamp characterized by comprising: The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1,
A vehicular headlamp characterized by comprising an original joint that engages with a follower provided integrally with the headlight and is capable of vertically rotating the headlight. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1 or 2,
A vehicle headlamp characterized in that the horizontal axis and the orthogonal axis are set on an irradiation axis of the headlight.

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